von Roeder, Flora. ''Deep in the Heart of America: A Chronology of six German Immigrant Lines to St. Clair County, Illinois''. Houston, Texas: F. von Foeder, 1995. Available at: {{WorldCat|33036676|disp=Various Libraries}} and {{FHL|738672|item|disp=FHL book 929.273 G55v}}

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von Roeder, Flora. ''Deep in the Heart of America: A Chronology of six German Immigrant Lines to St. Clair County, Illinois''. Houston, Texas: F. von Foeder, 1995. Available at: {{WorldCat|33036676|disp=Various Libraries (WorldCat)}} and {{FHL|738672|item|disp=FHL book 929.273 G55v}}

Military Records:<br>Kircher, Henry A. and Hess, Earl J. ''A German in the Yankee Fatherland: the Civil War letters of Henry A. Kircher''. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1983. Available at &lt; http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/9575826&gt;

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Military Records:<br>Kircher, Henry A. and Hess, Earl J. ''A German in the Yankee Fatherland: the Civil War letters of Henry A. Kircher''. Kent, Ohio, Kent State University Press, 1983. Available at: {{WorldCat|9575826|disp=Various Libraries (WorldCat)}}

Emigration:

Emigration:

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Freund, Hanns Egon. ''Emigration Records from the German Eifel Region 1834-1911''. Crystal Lake, Illinois: McHenry County Illinois Genealogical Society, 1991. This has a focus of emigrants whose final destinations were Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. Available at &lt; http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/24217066&gt; FHL &lt; https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/show?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fcatalog-search-api%3A8080%2Fwww-catalogapi-webservice%2Fitem%2F425944&gt;

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Freund, Hanns Egon. ''Emigration Records from the German Eifel Region 1834-1911''. Crystal Lake, Illinois: McHenry County Illinois Genealogical Society, 1991. This has a focus of emigrants whose final destinations were Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. Available at: {{WorldCat|24217066|disp=Various Libraries (WorldCat)}} and {{FHL|425944|item|disp=FHL book 977 W2f}}

Marxkors, Heinz, compiler. ''Emigrants from the former Counties of Büren and Paderborn in the former Province of Westphalia in the former Kingdom of Prussia emigrated to St. Libory, St. Clair County, State of Illinois''. Bielefeld, Germany: H. Marxkors, 2004. Available at &lt; http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56936323&gt; This is a wonderful resource for St. Clair County, Illinois and discusses St. Louis, Missouri historical associations.

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Marxkors, Heinz, compiler. ''Emigrants from the former Counties of Büren and Paderborn in the former Province of Westphalia in the former Kingdom of Prussia emigrated to St. Libory, St. Clair County, State of Illinois''. Bielefeld, Germany: H. Marxkors, 2004. Available at: {{WorldCat|56936323|disp=Various Libraries (WorldCat)}}<br><br>This is a wonderful resource for St. Clair County, Illinois and discusses St. Louis, Missouri historical associations.

The Early German Churches of Illinois publication coupled with the Illinois, Diocese of Belleville, Catholic Parish Records 1729-1956 &lt;https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://www.familysearch.org/searchapi/search/collection/1388122&gt; can be of assistance in establishing time-lines for Germans in Illinois.

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The Early German Churches of Illinois publication coupled with the Illinois, Diocese of Belleville, Catholic Parish Records 1729-1956 {{RecordSearch|1388122|Illinois, Diocese of Belleville, Catholic Parish Records, 1729-1956}} can be of assistance in establishing time-lines for Germans in Illinois.

Randolph County Genealogical Society, compiler. ''The German English Lutheran Zion Congregation at Blair, Randolph County, Illinois, translated from the German Church Records''. Chester, Illinois: Randolph County Genealogical Society, unknown date. Available at &lt; http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/48778461&gt;

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Randolph County Genealogical Society, compiler. ''The German English Lutheran Zion Congregation at Blair, Randolph County, Illinois, translated from the German Church Records''. Chester, Illinois: Randolph County Genealogical Society, unknown date. Available at: {{WorldCat|48778461|disp=Various Libraries (WorldCat)}}

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Schmidt, Martha Mae and Elsa E. ''History, Church Records, and Cemetery Burials of St. Peter's United Church of Christ, Lenzburg, IL 62255, 1878-1978''. Marissa, Illinois: M.M. Schmidt, 1977. Available at &lt; http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/12557826&gt;

Keil, Hartmut and Jentz, John B., editors. ''German Workers in Chicago: A Documentary History of Working-class Culture from 1850 to World War I''. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. Available at &lt; http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/15589748&gt;

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Keil, Hartmut and Jentz, John B., editors. ''German Workers in Chicago: A Documentary History of Working-class Culture from 1850 to World War I''. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. Available at: {{Worldcat|15589748|disp=Various Libraries (WorldCat)}}

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Lundberg, Gertrude W., compiler. ''Some German Name Cemeteries, Cook County, Illinois''. Glenview, Illinois: The Compiler, 1967. If entries are found, they can be looked up in the Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1922 database at &lt; https://familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://familysearch.org/searchapi/search/collection/1463134&gt;

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Lundberg, Gertrude W., compiler. ''Some German Name Cemeteries, Cook County, Illinois''. Glenview, Illinois: The Compiler, 1967. If entries are found, they can be looked up in the[https://familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://familysearch.org/searchapi/search/collection/1463134 Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1922 database]&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Northern Illinois Chapter American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, compiler. ''Germans from Russia: Death extractions, years 1914-1915'';''from the John V. May Funeral Home, Chicago, Illinois''. Palatine, Illinois: The Northern Illinois Chapter American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1997. Available at &lt; http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/38077026&gt;

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Northern Illinois Chapter American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, compiler. ''Germans from Russia: Death extractions, years 1914-1915'';''from the John V. May Funeral Home, Chicago, Illinois''. Palatine, Illinois: The Northern Illinois Chapter American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1997. Available at: {{WorldCat|38077026|disp=Various Libraries (WorldCat)}}

*Strand, A.E., compiler and editor.''A History of the Norwegians of Illinois''....Chicago, Illinois: J. Anderson Pub., 1905. This book,&nbsp;about early Norwegian settlers, can be viewed online. {{FHL|97182|item|FHL film 934967 Item 3; book 977.3 F2s}}

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*Strand, A.E., compiler and editor.''A History of the Norwegians of Illinois''....Chicago, Illinois: J. Anderson Pub., 1905. This book,&nbsp;about early Norwegian settlers, can be viewed online. {{FHL|97182|item|FHL film 934967 item 3}} and {{FHL|97182|item|FHL book 977.3 F2s}}

There were Norwegian communities in [[Boone County, Illinois|Boone County]] and [[Kendall County, Illinois|Kendall County]]. Alfred G. Stimes' article [http://boone.ilgenweb.net/norfarm.html Long Prairie Norwegian Farm Families in Boone County in 1870] lists&nbsp;Norwegians whose names were changed in America. [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilkendal/NorwegianImmigration/Index/index.htm Index to Norwegian Immigration] includes history, church records, and family group records of Norwegians in Kendall County.

There were Norwegian communities in [[Boone County, Illinois|Boone County]] and [[Kendall County, Illinois|Kendall County]]. Alfred G. Stimes' article [http://boone.ilgenweb.net/norfarm.html Long Prairie Norwegian Farm Families in Boone County in 1870] lists&nbsp;Norwegians whose names were changed in America. [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilkendal/NorwegianImmigration/Index/index.htm Index to Norwegian Immigration] includes history, church records, and family group records of Norwegians in Kendall County.

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Ethnic organizations and societies may suggest additional avenues of research for specific ethnic groups. Addresses and information for ethnic societies can be found as follows:

Ethnic organizations and societies may suggest additional avenues of research for specific ethnic groups. Addresses and information for ethnic societies can be found as follows:

Revision as of 19:46, 11 December 2012

Records and histories of minorities and ethnic groups may provide clues to immigrant origins, migration information and previous residences. See United States Minorities for further sources on ethnic, racial, and religious groups.

Ethnic Research in Illinois

You can find information on ethnic ancestors in most of the same records as other groups. Start your research in the same resources you would search for non-ethnic ancestors. The records listed on this page provide information about specific groups in Illinois.

Some sources for early settlers of Kaskaskia and other French areas of Illinois are described in Illinois History.

African Americans

Some African-Americans may be listed in the comprehensive index of servitude and emancipation records at the Illinois State Archives. These records are also available in IRAD depositories. See also the following sources:

Tregillis, Helen Cox, comp. River Roads to Freedom: Fugitive Slave Notices and Sheriff Notices Found in Illinois Sources. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1988. The information was obtained from newspaper microfilm available at the Illinois State Historical Library. Available at many libraries (WorldCat); FHL book 977.3 H6t

American Indians

The most prominent Indian tribes in Illinois were the Illinois, Miami, Winnebago, Fox and Sacs (Sauk), Kickapoo, and Pottawatomie tribes. Most of these tribes were eliminated from Illinois by about the mid-nineteenth century either through warfare or resettlement to other territories by the federal government. See Illinois American Indians for additional information on tribes, reservations, agencies, and resources.

Military Records:Kircher, Henry A. and Hess, Earl J. A German in the Yankee Fatherland: the Civil War letters of Henry A. Kircher. Kent, Ohio, Kent State University Press, 1983. Available at: Various Libraries (WorldCat)

Emigration:

Freund, Hanns Egon. Emigration Records from the German Eifel Region 1834-1911. Crystal Lake, Illinois: McHenry County Illinois Genealogical Society, 1991. This has a focus of emigrants whose final destinations were Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. Available at: Various Libraries (WorldCat) and FHL book 977 W2f

Marxkors, Heinz, compiler. Emigrants from the former Counties of Büren and Paderborn in the former Province of Westphalia in the former Kingdom of Prussia emigrated to St. Libory, St. Clair County, State of Illinois. Bielefeld, Germany: H. Marxkors, 2004. Available at: Various Libraries (WorldCat)

This is a wonderful resource for St. Clair County, Illinois and discusses St. Louis, Missouri historical associations.

Randolph County Genealogical Society, compiler. The German English Lutheran Zion Congregation at Blair, Randolph County, Illinois, translated from the German Church Records. Chester, Illinois: Randolph County Genealogical Society, unknown date. Available at: Various Libraries (WorldCat)

Schmidt, Martha Mae and Elsa E. History, Church Records, and Cemetery Burials of St. Peter's United Church of Christ, Lenzburg, IL 62255, 1878-1978. Marissa, Illinois: M.M. Schmidt, 1977. Available at: Various Libraries (WorldCat)

Stopp, Klaus. The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans. Six Volumes, Volume VI has Illinois entries. Mainz, Germany and East Berlin, Pennsylvania: The Author, 1998. Limited printing. Available at: Various Libraries (WorldCat) and FHL Book 974.8 A3st, 6 vols.

Harzig, Christiane. Peasant Maids-City Women: from the European Countryside to Urban America. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1997. Available at: Various Libraries (WorldCat)

Keil, Hartmut and Jentz, John B., editors. German Workers in Chicago: A Documentary History of Working-class Culture from 1850 to World War I. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. Available at: Various Libraries (WorldCat)

Northern Illinois Chapter American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, compiler. Germans from Russia: Death extractions, years 1914-1915;from the John V. May Funeral Home, Chicago, Illinois. Palatine, Illinois: The Northern Illinois Chapter American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1997. Available at: Various Libraries (WorldCat)

If searching for German origins of ancestors who came to Chicago, the records of the German Aid Society of Chicago (Deutsche Gesellschaft) may be the key. Records from 1878-1977 include surviving applications and case histories and are housed at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Lithuanian

Death Notices From Lithuanian Newspapers. Chicago, Illinois: Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture; Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1979. This is a microfilm of a card file of obituaries (1900–1979) from newspapers worldwide. It is not available at Family History Centers. FHL films 1206173–1206179

Mennonite

The Library collection includes holdings in genealogy and Anabaptist history for research.

Norwegian

Strand, A.E., compiler and editor.A History of the Norwegians of Illinois....Chicago, Illinois: J. Anderson Pub., 1905. This book, about early Norwegian settlers, can be viewed online. FHL Collection and FHL Collection

Polish

Polish Genealogical Society of America (PGSA)984 N. Milwaukee AvenueChicago, IL 60642In addition to a wealth of historical information about Polish ancestry, culture, and immigration, the PGSA has a number of free databases specific to Chicago research. Membership entitles you to additional access to some databases.

Haller's Army: During World War I, soldiers for the Polish army in France, commonly called Haller’s Army, were recruited among Poles living in the United States. Two forms that contain genealogical information were filled out by the recruits. Form A contains the volunteer’s name, address, and marital status; the number of children he had; how his family would be supported if he was accepted into service; whether or not he was a U.S. citizen; his age, physical description, and signature; the recruiting station; and the date. Form C contains additional information, such as the volunteer’s date and place of birth; the address of his closest relative in America and in Poland; his previous military service; and remarks. All volumes of the collection are available through PGSA at the above address.

Haller’s Army Index Searchable by surname and first name, the index shows the volunteer’s surname and given name, the town and state where he volunteered, his form (A or C described above, or L, that is, loose papers), and page number.

United States (with Some from Ontario, Canada) Recruits for the Polish Army in France, 1917–1919.... Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1995. A microfilm copy of Form A records only. The forms are in Polish, but at the beginning of each film is a blank form printed in English. There is an alphabetical list of volunteers for each item.FHL film 1993525 (first of 11 films)